By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – Prairieland Elementary and Stevenson Elementary schools were celebrating Monday as it’s now a participant in Project Fit American.

Project Fit has been working since 1990 to get kids fit in schools across America. OSF St. Joseph Medical Center and the OSF Foundation funded the programs with a $30,000 grant to each school.

Prairieland physical education teacher Jill Garneau said Project Fit means new playground equipment and a full curriculum.

“It includes these fitness cups that we use to encourage kids to run more laps, or just doing different exercises,” said Garneau. “They can earn cups, and they build pyramids with it, and it’s really cool.”

Garneau added the new equipment is good for the school and the entire community.

“This equipment is different than just a regular playground because, even though the kids are having fun with it, they’re building muscle,” she said.

OSF President and CEO Chad Boore said Project Fit’s major goal is lifelong fitness.

“If they start now, they carry it through to adulthood,” said Boore. “If we’re going to improve the health of the community, we’ve got to start here in grade schools.”

Project Fit first came to the Twin Cities in 2013 when Benjamin and Oakland Elementary schools added the program.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].